Glasgow 2014: Closing Ceremony live on BBC One

Following 11 days of memorable sporting action, Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games will be brought to a close with a spectacular Closing Ceremony at Hampden Park on Sunday, August 3, live on BBC One.

Some of the biggest names in music and entertainment will grace a specially constructed stage at Scotland’s national stadium as they pay tribute to the thousands of athletes and officials who have given Scotland nearly two weeks of unforgettable sport.

The Closing Ceremony celebration will give everyone in attendance and the millions watching around the world a chance to relive the highlights of the Games, along with surprise performances and special guests, all of which will see out Glasgow 2014 in magnificent style.

Athletes from 71 nations and territories assembled in Glasgow to compete for 219 medals across 17 sports and the Games has been widely acclaimed by those who took part, whether participating or spectating, and this summer’s sporting extravaganza will rightly live long in Scotland’s memory.

The ceremony follows a hugely successful Games for Team Scotland across the various sporting arenas, having won a total of 53 medals, including 19, while England topped the medals table overall for the first time at the Commonwealth Games since Edinburgh 1986, having won close to 60 gold medals.

Sunday’s Closing Ceremony not only promises to celebrate the Scotland’s way of life but also gives the athletes the chance to unwind after a hectic schedule, with the medal winners in particular no doubt looking forward to bowing out in style.

A legendary football venue and scene of many international moments of intense sporting drama, Hampden Park has been venue for Athletics at the this Commonwealth Games and the site has played host to some of the most thrilling moments of the entire event, with more than a thousand athletes going all out for gold and glory in over 48 events across seven days.

At one time the world’s largest stadium, Hampden’s playing surface has been raised by 1.9 metres to transform the stadium from a football venue into an international-standard track and field facility.

Hampden Park will undergo another massive transformation ahead of Sunday’s Closing Ceremony as just 18 hours after the conclusion of the track and field competition, the stadium is converted from an athletics venue to a concert venue, complete with over 160 tonnes of staging and over 3000 props.

The look and feel of the Closing Ceremony will differ to that of the Opening Ceremony, held at Celtic Park eleven days ago, which featured Tartan-clad performers, oversized Tunnock’s tea cakes, a giant kilt and Scottie dogs, as well as performances from Rod Stewart and Susan Boyle, and was widely praised among critics for its humour and energy.

Hampden’s ceremony will also feature many star names from the world of music, as well as a string of surprise guests, throughout the 90-minute spectacular, which is being dubbed by its organisers as “a night out not to be missed”.

The theme of the ceremony is “All Back to Ours” and will aim to reflect a typical night out in Glasgow, with more than 2,000 volunteer performers will take part in the ceremony, which is promised to bring the curtain down on Glasgow’s Games in thrilling fashion.

Of those confirmed to perform at the ceremony, Australian star Kylie Minogue will top the bill alongsie alongside Scotland’s own Lulu, Deacon Blue and Dougie MacLean, with possibly a special performance from legendary Scottish duo The Proclaimers also on the cards.

Minogue’s performance will represent the Games’ transfer to her native Australia in 2018 when Gold Coast hosts the event for the first time, with a special segment of the ceremony dedicated to promoting the Gold Coast 2018 Games.

The gloomy weather forecast for the ceremony, with heavy rain and thunderstorms expected, will certainly not dampen the spirits of the thousands in attendance at the stadium, with the mix of stunning musical and artistic performances combined with the usual protocol of the Closing Ceremony.

Hundreds of athletes will parade into the stadium to celebrate their achievements and participation in the Games, plus there will be the usual speeches from Commonwealth dignitaries and the ceremonial handover of the Games’ flag to Gold Coast.

With millions watching on television across the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories, Glasgow 2014 will be brought to an unforgettable conclusion at Hampden Park with a stunning Closing Ceremony as the nation bids farewell to the Games.

Follow the spectacular finale to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as it all unfolds with the Closing Ceremony, live across the BBC – on TV, radio and online.

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BBC Sport will broadcast the entire Glasgow 2014 Closing Ceremony live and uninterrupted from Hampden Park on Sunday, August 3, on BBC One and BBC One HD.

Clare Balding and Hazel Irvine will present the BBC’s coverage from inside Scotland’s national football stadium, starting at 8.00pm, where more than 40,000 people will gather to watch a spectacular two-hour show packed with live music and entertainment, a fitting way to bring 11 days of memorable sporting competition across Glasgow and beyond to a close.

In the hour-long build-up before the ceremony begins, the BBC team will review all the best moments from the Glasgow Games in a special review programme, with various montage pieces reflecting all the joy, heartache and celebration of the Games.

Taking place over 11 days, the 20th staging of the Games were the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland and have provided a number of performances and achievements that will live long in the memory.

The presenting team will be joined by a variety of special guests and experts from the BBC team in the one-hour build-up to the starts of the ceremony, including Sir Chris Hoy, Katherine Grainger and Steve Cram, to reflect on a successful Games for Glasgow and the home nations, as well as share their favourite moments from the event.

Inside the stadium, the BBC’s reporting team, including Lee McKenzie and Sir Matthew Pinsent, will be on the ground bringing the latest news and interviews with various guests and sporting legends.

Once the ceremony gets underway at 9.00pm, commentary on proceedings will be provided by BBC Sport’s Andrew Cotter and Hazel Irvine.

Live coverage of the Closing Ceremony will be available to watch in high-definition on BBC One HD and online via the BBC Sport website and app.

If you prefer to watch the Closing Ceremony without the BBC commentary, then you can do so by pressing the Red Button during the live show from 9.00pm.

After BBC One’s coverage of the ceremony has concluded at approximately 11.00pm, there will also be a chance to see the key moments again, as well as a full replay, via BBC Red Button.

The Closing Ceremony brings an end to a memorable summer of sport at the XX Commonwealth Games and all the best moments and key highlights from the Glasgow 2014 will be available to watch via the BBC Sport website for a short period after the Games have concluded, giving you the chance to re-live all the glorious medal-winning moments for the home nations.

One Comment

Glasgow 2014 Brilliant!
The Flower of Scotland National Anthem recorded by The RSNO is terrific but before the games end there should be a major acknowledgement to the handful of young, talented pipers from The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland who provided the main melody within the recording. Has this been forgotten?